Convertible sofa bed



March 30, R. MCKAY CONVERTIBLE SOFA BED Filed Aug. 25, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Z NTOR 7 Afif March 30, 1954 .J. R. MCKAY CONVERTIBLE SOFA BED Filed Au 25, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Wil I I V-INTOR March 30, 1954 v R, MC AY 2,673,354

CONVERTIBLE SOFA BED Filed Aug. 25 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 A? xxx ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 30, 1954 U NIT E D S TATES 2,67 3,354

CONVERTIBLE SOFA BED a-mesR. McKay, White iBlains; N11. Application August25, 1951,1SerialNo; 245,61}

2 Claims.

vThis invention relates to convertible sofa-beds, i.-e. a construction which by a simple adjustment may be adapted for use either as a-sofa or as a bed.

It is an object of the invention to provide a sofa-bed which is simpleinconstruction and operation and which may .be converted easily and quickly from one type .of .useto the other.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a sofa-bed which occupies the same floor space for both uses, and one which may be converted from one use to the other without any necessity for moving the supporting frame. This space saving feature is of particular advantage for installations in ships, railway cars or trailers, for example, where a convertible sofabed is frequently desirable, but where it is important that the supporting frame be anchored firmly to the floor. Unlike folding beds, the sofa-bed of this invention employs a full sized, non-folding conventional mattress and springs, which can be made up each morning like any conventional bed and covered, if desired, with a tight fitting mattress cover.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

A preferred embodiment of the invention selected for purposes of illustration is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the sofa-bed with the parts arranged for use as a sofa.

Figure 2 is a similar view showing the parts adjusted for use as a bed.

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail of the holding bracket.

Figure 6 is a front elevation of the latch.

Figure 7 is a side view of the latch, partly in section.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l illustrates the sofa-bed when arranged for use as a sofa. As such, it comprises two end panels I and 2 which may conveniently be shaped, as shown, to serve as arm rests for persons sitting at the ends of the sofa. Said end panels also serve as foot and headboards when used as a bed and may be upholstered or not, as desired. The end panels are connected by longitudinal members 3, 4, 4' of any suitable construction, and said members, together with the end panels constitute a frame. Said frame may be provided with suitable-conventionalmeans "for' supportingsprings-andmattress5 of-suitable-width, length and'idepth for 'use as a single bed.

When used as a-=sofa-, as illustrated in'Figure 1, the'- bottomedge- 6 of abackrest 1 which extends lengthwise of 5 the mattress from one end panel to the other, engages and rests on the mattress at --approximately -its mid point, thus leaving --only a comfortable seat width --of the mattress exposed. The top of the backrest is connected by hinges 8 to the front of a horizontally disposed top panel 9 which extends lengthwise the full length of the sofa-bed. The rear of the top panel is connected to the frame by hinges it, which, in the embodiment illustrated are connected to the top of the frame member 4.

Thus, when it is desired to convert the sofa to use as a bed, it is only necessary to lift the backrest I, which, in turns lifts the front of the top panel 9, causing it to pivot on the hinges 10, so that the parts assume the positions of Figures 2 and 3. As so arranged they are above and well clear of the mattress, leaving the entire upper surface of the mattress exposed for use as a bed.

It is desirable to provide means to hold the parts in this position, and in the embodiment illustrated a pair of brackets are provided, each comprising an arm! I, one end of which is pivotally connected to the top panel at [2. The arm has an elongated slot I3 which engages the pin l4 mounted on the end panel. One end of the slot is provided with a notch l5 permitting the arm H to drop when the backrest 1 is fully raised, thus locking the backrest in raised position until released by lifting the arm ll out of the notch.

When the sofa-bed is being used as a sofa, i. e. with the parts in the position illustrated in Figure 1 it is also desirable to provide means to lock the top panel so that the backrest will not ride up when a person sitting on the sofa leans against it. For this purpose spring pressed latches It may be mounted in suitable recess I! in the end panels, said latches having beveled surfaces I8 which are in the path of flanges l9 mounted on the top panel. As the top panel moves to its horizontal position, as shown in Figures 4 and 7 the flanges l9 engage the latches l5 causing them to retract so that the flanges come into contact with lugs 20 which project forwardly from the latch plate 2|.

When it is desired to release the latches so that the backrest may be raised, the fingers 22 mounted on the ends of the backrest may be employed. Said fingers are arranged, as shown in Figures 4 and 7 to engage the beveled surfaces of the latches as the bottom of the free swinging backrest is pulled forwardly. The engagement of the fingers 22 with the bevelled surfaces l8 of the latches forces the latches to retract against their springs far enough to release the flanges IQ of the top panel (Fig. and thereby permit the top panel to swing upwardly tothe positions of Figures 2 and 3.

It will be understood that the invention may be variously modified and embodied within the scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A convertible sofa-bed comprising a pair of end panels and connecting longitudinal members which, together with said end members constitute a frame, a mattress supported on said frame between said end panels, said end panels extending upwardly a substantial distance above the level of the top surface of the mattress, a top pan el extending lengthwise of said frame and having its rear portion pivotally mounted thereon a substantial distance above the level of the top surface of the mattress to swing upwardly to a substantially vertical position and downwardly to a substantially horizontal position, a latch to lock said top panel against movement relative to the end panels when said top panel is in horizontal position, and a backrest having its top portion pivotally connected to the front portion of said top panel and swinging freely therefrom to engage the top surface of said mattress.

2. A convertible sofa-bed as claimed in claim 1 in which said latch to lock thetop panel against movement relative to the end panels is a spring pressed latch mounted in an end anel, and in which a finger is mounted on said backrest and is moved to release said latch when said backrest is pulled forwardly.

JAMES R. McKAY.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,296,612 Bartlett Mar. 11, 1919 1,314,109 Wersel Aug. 26, 1919 1,379,805 Dewey May 31, 1921 2,377,958 Mann June 12, 1945 2,465,863 Fox Mar. 29, 1949 2,513,987 Woller July 4, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 131,984 Germany Feb. 25, 1933 240,757 Switzerland May 1, 1946 

